In the field of AI and Education, Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) were replaced by Intelligent Learning Environments (ILE). This name transformation embodies a radical change concerning the role of such artificial agents and the possible ways they can be used to promote human learning. Recently some researchers (eg. J. Self) have pointed out the need for a formal characterization of these ILE systems. The goal of this article is to show one possible way of formalization. It will be based on a modification of the idea of deductive structures (DS) first proposed by Konolige. These DS will be accompanied by heuristic principles and criteria that define different types of societies and agents. We will show how this technical apparatus can be adopted in distinct educational scenarios.